If you're in the La Mesa area of San Diego and you need a quick caffeine fix, this little…read moredrive-thru packs a big punch. I was on my way to church and needed an early cup and was surprised how many shops were not open at 7 AM. I'm sure I could have found a Starbucks but that's always reserved for a last resort. Big props to this spot being open early on a Sunday morning, so I could make it to church prayed up and fully caffeinated. The barista opened right on time (7 AM) I loved how friendly she was for it being that early, and she got me my drink within 3-4 minutes. I am not a big coffee drive-thru guy, but if I lived in the area, especially knowing it is veteran owned, I might become one. Thanks guys and best of luck!

This was my second time at this coffee establishment, I remember really liking it my first visit so…read moredecided to try something new! I unfortunately chose the wrong line and got stuck behind this cop who was ordering but also decided to get out and help capture a lost dog which made 3 other cars cut in line ahead of me... the workers were very sweet and noticed I had been waiting and came out right away to help and make sure I got my order taken! The la mesa latte was super yummy and while I'm not the biggest fan of cold foam on lattes this one was pleasantly good! I had also gotten a bagel with cream cheese which I don't believe was toasted and would say that was the only downside but the delicious amount of cream cheese definitely helped.

For a few years now, I've been buying my beans, five pounds at a time, from Brew Coffee Spot in La…read moreMesa. I like the roasting profile they use, and for a while, they've stocked a Costa Rica Sonora Black-Honey Natural that is just fantastic. Joe Paraiso, the owner, is a very experienced coffee purveyor, and he's been incredibly kind to me, sharing his time and knowledge to make sure I get what I want. And, not for nothing, when I'm at Brew Coffee Spot picking up the beans I ordered online, I always have a coffee. Joe either does a great job of training his baristas, or he's REALLY good at hiring talent, or both. Seriously... his folks make my coffees, usually a cortado or a straight espresso, with a downtown San Francisco or Rome level of competence.

The La Mesa area has a lot of different coffee options, I'm glad I found this one. When I moved…read moreback to San Diego six years ago, I had a meeting with someone at this shop, but because I've moved to a completely different part of the area I had not gone back. Recently, I spent some time back in La Mesa and thought I would go back and try this spot out. So much space, friendly staff, reasonable prices, with a bunch of gluten-free and vegan options when it comes to food. Plenty of parking, outdoor seating as well, and even when they were busy, I think I did not wait more than five minutes for my drink. I chose to use their honey syrup instead of regular honey, and was not disappointed with my iced oatmilk latte also, I have to point out something you don't typically see at a lot of coffee shops. Both times I went, there was an incredible mix of generations in that shop. From younger to older, it was awesome to see generations coming together. Great job guys!

My new favorite coffee spot! I'm currently in my pandan obsession era and this place does it RIGHT…read more I've already been back more times than I can count. So far, I've tried the pandan, the brown sugar, and the sesame latte all iced w/ oat milk and they've all been a hit. The pandan is easily my fave, but if you're trying the brown sugar and don't love super sweet drinks I'd recommend adding an extra shot to balance it out. The drinks are consistently good and you can tell they really care about the quality. It's one of those spots you keep thinking about and end up going back to without even planning it. Customer service was solid and there's plenty of seating, which makes it a nice place to hang out or get some work done. Parking was also easy, which is always a win. Highly recommend checking this place out especially if you're a pandan lover like me!

Public Square has been closed since April after staff walked out and eventually quit due to unpaid…read morewages. Unfortunately, this place was on the decline leading up to these events. It would usually take a half hour to get a simple drink order. Food that was previously wow turned into meh (I'm looking at you, shashuka). I don't blame the baristas. I don't think the business owners ever properly streamlined their ordering process / menu to get items out effectively. I hope we get something nice to replace this space.

the owner is so, so nice! she remembered what I got even weeks passed when I came back. the…read morebreakfast sandwich is easily one of the best breakfast meals i've ever had, and i'm not even vegan! it's also cute that they have business cards of other local small businesses and events happening in the area. the white cookie butter mocha i had was definitely the best mocha i've ever had. 10/10 experience!

First time discovering this small bakery tucked away in a spacious plaza of Lemon Grove. The inside…read moreis able to seat around 14 people from the looks of it and there is additional shaded seating outside. Staff that I met was extremely friendly (Grayson, Jules, and Dom), as well as the owner of the bakery Tanya. This bakery has been operating for about three years and there was a good crowd on a Monday afternoon. All the pastries are vegan and I tried the vanilla concha (pro tip get it warmed up) with their house made maple butter and the carrot cake. Both were amazing, I've never had a vegan concha and don't think I'll be going back to regular ones! They also have breakfast sandwiches that many people ordered that looks like it's on a thick piece of focaccia. The reviews speak for itself! Great pastries and coffee, friendly staff, and clean store what more could you want?! I'm glad I made this discovery and can't wait to come back, highly recommend you check out this place!

I'm surprised it wasn't more crowded! Although I did go mid week, perhaps that's why. This coffee…read moreshop is everything! The chairs inside are so comfortable. I like that the shop isn't extremely cluttered with plants. Just enough that it feels open and bright. You know with nature, you just breathe better. (; Anyways, the interior murals are such a warm and lively color - it just makes me happy seeing it. I love the artwork on the walls because it matches their specialty lattes. The outdoor seating space is also quite nice. The colors of the tables are pastel pink and pastel yellow-- you can sit in semi shade or shaded area. It's really lovely! To drink, I decided to get one of their specialty lattes-- $7, Iced 12 oz, PEAK SEASON with whole milk. This is an iced blueberry latte with coconut condensed milk. It was so delicious! I would highly recommend this. It wasn't overly sweet either-- which I can appreciate. I highly recommend coming to Ultreya Coffee & Tea! The drinks are superb and fairly priced. They have a few food and pastry options as well. ...lol just read my past review and I basically had the same exact thoughts as this time around! Hilarious.

I love Ultreya. It's a fun, cute coffee coffee shop that…read moreserves delicious treats. I've held many book club meets here and we've all been super satisfied with the food, drinks, and service. Plus, we never need to worry about parking. That is always a bonus.

The food and drinks are so delicious. Aside from the amazing food and drinks, the owner is…read moreextremely welcoming and genuinely happy to have you as a customer. This is definitely my new go-to place to study and get coffee.

I've been to The Vinam Cafe on El Cajon Blvd a couple of times now, and it's quickly becoming one…read moreof my favorite spots. Since its located on El Cajon Blvd, parking can be a little tricky, but you can find street parking, and there's also a small lot, so far I have not had any issues with parking. The space itself is cozy and welcoming, with free WiFi, board games to play, and even books for kids, which makes it feel like a great hangout spot whether you're alone or with friends or family. The staff has been consistently friendly, and the girls working there were genuinely so sweet and welcoming both times I visited. On my second visit, I even met the owner and her adorable son, which just added to the warm, community feel of the place. Now the best part...the food and drinks. They have a huge selection of pastries, and everything I've tried has been delicious. On my first visit, I had a pastry with ham, cheese, and egg, and it was seriously amazing, the egg was perfectly runny, and it still held up well even after being warmed up. The second time, we tried the meat pie pastry (which reminded us of dumpling filling in the best way) and a jam and cream cheese danish, both were excellent. Their drinks are just as impressive. I've personally tried the Crème Brûlée Cloudfee and the Coconut Cloudfee, and both were incredible. A friend also had the Purple (Ube) Cloudfee and absolutely loved it. They also offer a variety of other drinks, pastries, and Banh Mi sandwiches, which I'm definitely planning to try next. Overall, this place has everything: great drinks, delicious pastries, a comfortable vibe, and genuinely kind people. This will definitely be my new go-to spot for Vietnamese coffee.

Open on Memorial Day from 7 am to 1 pm This place is popular…read morebecause great coffee sells itself. I know that sounds cliche. The food is good here but get here early on the weekends is gets busy here. My favorite drink is the dirty chai hot. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and they open at 6 am on the weekdays. The baked goods come from a local bakery Bread and Cie. Good customer service and easy to find. The his is my favorite coffee place in San Carlos. Enjoy!

What is not to love about this place!!! Just a random stop in on our adventures today! I'm so…read moreimpressed!! Need to go back and snap some more photos because the 2 sitting areas are just as cute. So many people enjoying the space I wanted to be courteous. Coffee was VERY good! I'm all about a cold brew to really taste the coffee. Theirs is amazing!! Definitely a place we will be back to!

This awesome newer shop is such a cute and cool spot…read more They have some excellent drip, great breakfast sandwiches, and the staff is so cool and sweet to chat with. The ship itself is huge and a great spot to work or meet up with friends. The theme is really cool and the merch all fits the vibe.

Came back and brought friends! Came on a Sunday right around 11:30 and it was busy but we were able…read moreto find a table right away. I decided to get the houjicha and I like that it comes unsweetened. It was well made and the flavor of the houjicha was strong. My friends got the chai, matcha and the breakfast sandwich and enjoyed them. The English muffin on the breakfast sandwich almost looked homemade. She did mention the sandwich was very cheesy but not in a bad way.

Scrimshaw is a great option for quality coffee and food for those of us who start our days late…read more I love this place for their quality beverages, their fresh food variety, the kind staff, and the fact I've always found an open table. My boyfriend always gets drip and a pastrami sandwich that looked so good I broke my vegetarian streak just for a bite. I've had their blueberry malt latte and their white tea beverage as well as both their veggie bagel and veg bowl. Everything has been so tasty and the vibes are always welcoming. The cafe itself is really cute and i'm a big fan.

Unfortunately, this cafe dropped the ball both in barista customer service and response from…read moremanagement. Basically what had happened was i waited over 10 min for simple chai and inquired with barista about status update. We agreed to have it remade and she had told me next time "there's no need to be rude" despite never insulting, shouting, or making a scene. Wrote to management about this odd experience and I recieved a response from owner. He has said he will talk to staff and "apologies on that" but honestly it seemed half-hearted and not sincere at all. No attempts to try and make it right or acts of good faith which i would think is standard procedure for cases like this. Fortunately, there is a plethora of cafes in San Diego to try so I will keep discovering new ones until I find my favorite.

This cafe is so cute!! The owner is so kind, friendly, and the coffee is delicious!! Love…read moresupporting a local buisness, especially one of a SDSU alum!

The owner is super kind and friendly and my coffee was delicious. He's into marathon running and…read moreeverything about the place in ambiance honors that passion. If dropping kids off at the YAT camp in Grossmont, it's a great stop.